Ref for Everton v Man Utd game has been changed to...guess who

[Craig_H]

They're idiots though, because it's obviously asking for trouble.

[Scratch]

Not really, they'd be asking for more trouble if they over looked him in favour of someone else, cos then they'd bascially be admitting that Riley may not be completely neutral.

[Roboklopp]

Stretford Mike? FFS.

[Shaggy]

Not really, they'd be asking for more trouble if they over looked him in favour of someone else, cos then they'd bascially be admitting that Riley may not be completely neutral.

Why would the fact that Riley had been ‘overlooked’ even have to be an issue? It wouldn’t. There are loads of other refs. They could’ve just replaced Bennett with, say, Halsey, and there’d be no problem.

As it is, the hapless FA have created a situation out of nothing when it could so easily have been avoided.

Mike Riley FFS.

[Craig_H]

Not really, they'd be asking for more trouble if they over looked him in favour of someone else, cos then they'd bascially be admitting that Riley may not be completely neutral.

It wouldnt need to be made public that they'd overlooked him. They choose the ref, and the 2nd choice - so just dont put Riley on it. Not difficult.

It's a bit like when a player leaves a trailing leg in the box, and a forward goes over it. Maybe a pen, maybe not - but why put yourself in that position in the first place?

[Neil Young]

It may not have to be made public but imagine the problems that would ensue if it got out that the FA had gone against their own rules and not picked the next referee on the list.

Either way they got themselves in a fix and the only solution is for them to admit what is bleeding obvious to the rest of us - Mike Riley is not good enough.

[Joe King]

Basically all this unwanted pressure will be on Mike Riley on Saturday and hopefully it will pay dividends - there won't be any penalties to United and just the one added minute so Fergie can't look at his ridiculous watch. Hate it when he does that.

[Craig_H]

It may not have to be made public but imagine the problems that would ensue if it got out that the FA had gone against their own rules and not picked the next referee on the list.

Either way they got themselves in a fix and the only solution is for them to admit what is bleeding obvious to the rest of us - Mike Riley is not good enough.

What i meant though, is why would Riley have even been PLACED as the next referee on the list?

Mancs 2 favourite refs are the first two on the list? Why would anyone even contemplate doing that?

[dww]

I always thought there was some process whereby managers/clubs could anonymously ask for some officials not to be considered for games. I guess possibly Everton did complain and he got the job anyway.

[dww]

I like Wiley, Clattenburg (while he was still around - will he ever come back?) and Mike Dean, don't mind Foy....don't think much of Webb and cannot abide Styles, Riley, Bennett, Dowd or Halsey.

I actually think the refereeing in the PL stands up to any other I see in Spain, Italy or European competition. It is a difficult job and I think that a combination of the fact it is not easy to attract really top people and institutional weakness at FAs around Europe which tends to undermine any sort of consistency across a season means that the standard is not particularly high anywhere.

What I will say though is that watching the odd South American match makes you understand that our refs are much better than you think.

[EwarWoo]

Someone posted an interesting article the other day on another board. I don't have the source but unfortunately:

An investigation of the past five seasons shows that United have won 71 per cent of their Premier League matches under Riley, the most recent of which was the last-gasp 3-2 win against Aston Villa when Federico Macheda scored on his debut.

United lead the way in the 'Big Four' race winning 71 per cent of games in which Riley has refereed. Chelsea come in second with a high 65 win percentage with Liverpool in third and Arsenal fourth.


Big Four under Mike Riley over the last 5 years


Arsenal 58%
Chelsea 65%
Liverpool 60%
Man Utd 71%

Riley has often been associated with controversial penalty decisions but he has not given one in a Red Devils game since 2006-07.

Indeed, despite him famously awarding the spot-kick that helped end Arsenal's record unbeaten run at 49 games, it is The Gunners who have benefited most from Riley penalty awards since 2004, with four.


Big Four Penalties under Mike Riley last 5 seasons

Arsenal For 4 ; Against 3

Chelsea For 2; Against 1

Liverpool For 1 Against 2

Man Utd For 2 Against 1

It was actually posted as an attack on Riley, however the stats seem to show despite all perceptions he's reasonably fair.

Compared to form the % of wins add up except maybe Arsenal have got a bit more unlucky than they should.

[Craig_H]

It's not just penalty decisions though, is it?

Villa got ****-all out of him at Old Trafford, every single 50/50 went the mancs way.

As for our penalty at Old Trafford - even Helen Keller would have seen it as a pen, there's no way Riley could've NOT given it.

[Joe King]

Every 50/50 so far has gone to United.

[Shaggy]

The pen today was a stonewaller IMO so maybe Riley had Moyes' remarks in his mind.

However everything else went to the Mancs. There was a spell in extra-time when he gave the Mancs some unbelievable decisions.

[Joe King]

I'm thinking back to when Cahill could have been one on one with Foster (potential England keeper ) and I didn't see anything wrong.